My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils start a four-game series with the Cubs.

The Phils (9-10, 4th East), who had yesterday off, have just returned from Phoenix, Arizona, with a two-game winning streak and their first series win on the road, after having spilt their previous four-game series with the Padres. The Phils’ offense supported solid pitching performances from Vance Worley (2-1, 2.16) and Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.73), who, between them, gave up only three runs in fourteen innings pitched, by erupting for fifteen runs in eighteen innings, after having scored five runs in their last at-bats during their Monday night lost. The Phils will be facing the Cubs (6-13, 6th Central), one of the prersently bad clubs in the National League, who are coming off a lost against the Cardinals on Wednesday, after having won the previous two games. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park, and is to start at 7:05 pm EDT.

The Phils will be sending to the mound their ace Roy Halladay (3-1, 1.50), who is coming off a tough lost against the Padres on April 21, as he threw seven innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a very high (for him) four walks, while striking out five, in the Phils’ 5-1 lost. Career-wise, Halladay have had very little success against the Cubs, as he has a record of 1-4 with a 3.72 ERA, as he had struck out 23 Cubbies. He will be out for his fourth win of the season, trying to continue the Phils’ present winning streak while also trying to improve his personal record against the Cubs. The Cubs will counter with Paul Maholm (1-2, 8.36), who is coming off a victory against the Reds on April 21, as he pitched six innings, giving up a run on four hits and three walks, while he struck out five, in the Cubs’ 6-1 win. Against the Phils, Maholm has a career record of 3-2 with an ERA of 4.50 in seven starts, as he struck out 27 Phils. He will be out to build on his previous win, while trying to give the Cubs the series’ opener win. The Phils will be trying to once again even their record, while trying to see if they can end the month of April on a more positive note.

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